Environmental Geochemistry in the Tropics

310 Pages·1998·7.647 MB·English

by  Egbert K. Duursma (auth.), Prof Dr. Julio C. Wasserman, Prof Dr. Emmanuel V. Silva-Filho, Prof Dr. Roberto Villas-Boas (eds.)

Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 72
Editors:
.S Bhattacharji, Brooklyn
G. M. Friedman, Brooklyn and Troy
H. J. Neugebauer, Bonn
A. Seilacher, Tuebmgen and Yale
Julio C. Wasserman
Emmanoel .V Silva-Filho
Roberto Villas-Boas (Eds.)
Environmental
yrtsimehcoeG
in the Tropics
With 301 Figures and 52 Tables
regnirpS
Editors
Prof Dr. Juho C. Wasserman
Laboratoire de Chirnle Bio-Inorgamque et Envlronnement
CNRS - EP 132, Centre Helioparc
2, av. du Pr6sident Angot, F-64000 Pau, France
Prof. Dr. Emmanoel V Sdva-Filho
Dept de Geoquimica- UFF
Outetro de S~o-Joao Batlsta s/n °
Centro, Niter6i, RJ, 24020-150, Brazil
Prof Dr. Roberto Villas-Boas
Centro de Tecnologla Mineral, CETEM/CNPq
Rua 4, quadra D, Ctdade Universitfirla - Ilha do Fund~o
Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazd
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Environmental geochemistry in the tropics / Julio C. Wasserman ...
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(Lecture notes in earth sciences ; 72)
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Preface
This book is a compilation of contributions for the enhancement of environmental
geochemistry in the tropics. Some of the papers began as extended abstracts and
presentations at the first International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry
in the Tropical Countries (ISEGTC), held in Niterdi in 1993, and have now been
expanded and up-dated. The book includes a range of aspects of tropical research
where little has been done to date.
New fields of tropical research are emerging all the time. Although tropical
research has a tendency to imitate methods already applied to temperate
environments, it is not always easy to obtain data in tropical environments and to
explain these data in light of wtaat has already been done in colder climates.
Reaction velocity, biological activity, especially microbial, and the lack of well
defined seasons are examples of some of the parameters that distinguish tropical
and temperate environments. Iron provides a classic example of the importance of
climate on geochemical behavior. While the amount of iron in surface sediments
and soils is ¢21ev tow in temperate locations, this metal is a significant percentage
of Brazilian soils. The presence of iron oxides is the result of more drastic
weathering, typical of tropical environments. The ge6chemical implications of iron
are enormous, since its presence can change the behavior of a number of other
important variables such as organic matter, metals and micro-organic pollutants.
Another example is presented in Chapter ,31 where the authors establish a
relationship between the geochemistry of organic matter and mercury. Presently, it
is hypothesized that mercury is not associated with organic matter but in an
organic matter form, as methyl compounds. The implications of mercury
geochemistry for risk assessment studies in the tropics are of grave concern.
Chapter 1 is a transcription of the discussions during the closing session of the
ISEGTC, summarized by Dr. Egbert K. Duursma. The Symposium had been the
forum for discussions on the present state of and new directions for environmental
research in the tropics.
Chapter 2 is an example of studies being conducted in Brazil on the
paleoclimates of the humid forest environment, using carbon isotopes to identify
C-3 and C-4 plant debris. Chapter 3 is a significant attempt to establish transfer
factors for artificial radionuctides in cultivated plants. Chapters 4 and 5 discuss
models of soil (and mineral) leaching of elements and metals, a major process in
tropical weathering. Chapters 6 and 7, although tbcnsing on very different
subjects, are important tools for environmental research. Remote sensing has
VI Preface
already proven to be a powerful tool in the development of mass balance studies,
necessary, but very rare in tropical areas. Chapter 6 is an example of the
application of satellite image analysis to biomass studies in tropical settings.
Chapter 7 introduces concepts, e.g. the reference plant and reference freshwater,
resulting from the concentrations measured in a large number of samples, using
multi-element analysis techniques. Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 1t are classical
geochemistry studies from sub-tropical and tropical coastal environments, but they
are of importance because of the use of different geochemical tools. Chapters 21
and 31 focus on the dynamics of heavy metals (cadmium, zinc and mercury) in
coastal environments. The next three chapters focus on environmental problems
caused by gold mining. Although Chapter 61 furnishes a temperate example of the
environmental problems associated with gold mining, it is a particularly important
contribution which emphasizes that mercury behaves similarly in tropical and in
temperate climates subject to this kind of activity. Chapters 41 and 51 are
examples of the application of techniques for the exploitation of gold in lesser
developed countries in the tropics, where serious environmental problems occur as
a result of mercury release.
Groundwater chemistry is poorly known in the tropics. Due to the deficiency of
sanitary facilities in the developing countries, groundwater is frequently used not
only for water supply but also for disposal of used waters. As a consequence, the
water table is reduced and groundwater quality degraded. Chapter 71 presents the
study of a small drainage basin where over-exploitation of groundwaters is
becoming an insoluble problem.
The next chapter presents the results of a large scale air monitoring program in
the tropics. In this chapter, the influence of forest bumings on air quality is
assessed.
The final chapter is concerned with environmental modeling, and particularly
budgets of materials in tropical areas. The simple calculations that are involvedi n
the budgets can be improved considerably when dynamic processes are included
and more realistic validation data have been obtained. Nevertheless, the apparent
ease of making a mass balance hides the amount of information needed and the
degree of knowledge of processes. I think that this contribution is an appropriate
finale, since it does not provide information, but uses information, for a better
understanding of the environment.
I would like to acknowledge all contributors and thank them fort heir patience. I
also wish to thank Mr. Reginaldo Machado Filho for his work on many of the
figures that appear in this book.
Rio de Janeiro Julio Cesar Wasserman
March, 1998
Contents
Chapter 1 Trends in Environmental Geochemistry
in Tropical Comntries (E. K. Duursma) ........
Chapter 2 Paleoclimate Studies in Brazil Using Carbon
Isotopes in Soils (L. C. R. Pessenda,
E. P. E. Valencia, R. Aravena, E. C. C. Telles
and R. Boulet) ..........................
Chapter 3 Soil-to-Plant Transfer of sC731 Related to Its
Geochemical Partitioning in Oxisols of Tropical
Areas (M. A. M. Wasserman) .............. 71
Chapter 4 Speciation, Reactivity and Mobility of Toxic
Elements in Soil Systems (R. Melamed) ...... 29
Chapter 5 Key Role of Flow Velocity and pH in the
Lixiviation of Mineral-Forming Elements
(J. L. Mogolldn) ......................... 49
Chapter 6 Spatial Distribution and Seasonal Patterns of
Aquatic Emergent Plants in Southeast Brazil:
Development of a Tool for Mass Balances
(A. N. Marques Jr. and I. Tour6) ......... 63
Chapter 7 Instrumental Multi-Element Analysis in Plant
Materials: A ModernM ethod in Environmental
Chemistry and Tropical Systems Research
(B. Markert) ............................ 75
Chapter 8 Chemistry and Distribution of Trace Elements
in the Patos Lagoon, South Brazil
(P. R. Baisch and J.C. Wasserman) ......... 97
VIII Contents
Chapter 9 Mass Balance Estimation of Natural and
Anthi-opogenic Heavy Metal Fluxes in
Streams Near the Camaqu~ Copper Mines,
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (L. Laybauer
and E. D. Bidone) ....................... 721
Chapter 01 A Model for Geochemical Partitioning of
Heavy Metals in the Mar del Plata Coastal
Ecosystem, Argentina (J. E. Marcovecchio,
L. D. Fetter, A. O. Banal, M. O. Scagliola
and A. E. Pucci) ........................ 139
Chapter 11 Mangrove Swamps of the Suba6 and Paraguaqfi
Tributary Rivers ofTodos os Santos Bay, Bahia,
Brazil (J. F. Paredes, A. F. S. Queiroz,
I. G. Carvalho, M. A. .S B. Ramos,
A. L. F.Santos and C. Mosser) ............. 149
Chapter 21 Metal Scavenging and Cyclingi n a Tropical
Coastal Region (C. Barcellos, L. D. de Lacerda
and S. Ceradini) ......................... 157
Chapter 31 Mercury Behaviour in Sediments from a
Sub-Tropical Coastal Environment in SE Brazil
(P. R. G. Barrocas and J. C. Wasserman) ..... 171
Chapter 41 Diagnosis of Environmental Problems Related
to Vein Gold Mining in Colombia (G. R. Prieto
and M. L. Gonzalez) ..................... 581
Chapter 51 Assessment of the Heavy Metal Pollutioni n
a Gold "Garimpo" (S. Rodrigues-Filho
and J. E. L. Maddock) .................... 391
Chapter 61 Mercury Partitioning Within Alluvial Sediments
of the Carson River Valley, Nevada: Implications
for Sampling Strategies in Tropical Environments
(J. R. Miller and P. J. Lechler) .............. 211
Chapter 71 Hydrogeochemical Description of Oroundwaters
from a Coastal Region of Rio de Janeiro State,
Brazil (E. V. da Silva-Filho, D. Tubbs
and J. E. L. Maddock) .................... 235
Contents IX
Chapter 81 Long Term Atmospheric Aerosol
Characterization in the Amazon Basin
(P. Artaxo, F. Gerab and M. A. Yamasoe) .... 247
Chapter 19 Are Tropical Estuaries Environmental Sinks
or Sources? (E. K. Duursma) ............. 273
Index 295
CONTRIBUTORS
Aravena, R., University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
Artaxo, P., Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de ogS Paulo, Sgo
Paulo, Caixa Postal 66318, 05389-970, Sgo Paulo, Brazil
Baisch, P. R., Departamento de Oceanografia Geoldgica, Fundag~o
Universidade de Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Caixa Postal 474,
96200-000, Rio Grande, Brazil
Barcellos, C., Departamento de Geoquimica, Universidade Federal
Fluminense, Outeiro de Sgo Jogo Batista, s/n °, 24020-150,
Niterdi -Brazil (Present address: DIS, odlawsO-otgecadq.u-F
Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulh6es 1480, 21041-210 Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil)
Barral, A. O., Instituto Nacional de Investigacidn y Desarrollo
Pesquero (INIDEP), C.C. 175, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
Barrocas, P. R. G., CESTEH, Fundag~o Oswaldo Cruz, Rua
Leopoldo Bulh6es 1480, 21041-210 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bidone, E. D., Departamento de Geoquimica, Universidade Federal
Fluminense, Outeiro de Sgo Jogo Batista, s/n , °
24020-150, Niterdi -Brazil
Boulet, R., ORSTOM, Institute of Geosciences, NUPEGEL, France.
Carvalho, I. G., Instituto de Geoci~ncia, UFBA, Rua Caetano Moura,
123, Salvador, 40170-290, Salvador, Brazil
Ceradini, S., Divisione Ambiente, CISE, Via Reggio Emilia 39, MI-
20090, Milan, Italy
Duursma, E. K. (retired), Res. les Marguerites, appt. ,51 1305,
Chemin des Revoirs, La Turbie, F-06320, France
XII Contributors
Ferrer, L. D., Lab. de Quimica Marina, Instituto Argentino de
Oceanografia (IADO), Av. Atem, 53, 8000, Bahia Blanca,
Argentina
Gerab, F., Instituto de Pesquisas Energ6ticas e Nucleares/CNEN,
Sgo Paulo, Brazil
Gonzalez, M. L., INGEOMINAS, Diagonal 35 # 34-53, BogoN,
Colombia
Laybauer, L., Curso de Pds-Graduaggo em Geoci~ncias, Universidade
Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 15065, 91501-970,
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Lacerda, L. D., Departamento de Geoquimica, Universidade Federal
Fluminense, Outeiro de o~S Jo~o Batista, s/n °, 24020-150,
Niterdi -Brazil
Lechler, P. J., Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, University of
Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 89557, USA
Maddock, J. E. L., Departamento de Geoquimica, Universidade
Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de Sgo Jogo Batista, s/n °,
24020-150, Niterdi -Brazil
Marcovecchio, J. E., Lab. de Quimica Marina, Instituto Argentino de
Oceanografia (IADO), Av. Alem, 53, 8000, Bahia Blanca,
Argentina
Markert, B., Zittau International Hoschschul, Markt 23, 027A3,
Zittau, Germany
Marques Jr., A. N. M., Programa de P6s-Graduag~o em Biologia
Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de Jogo
Jogo Batista s/n °, 24020-150, Niter6i, Brazil
Melamed, R., Centro de Tecnologia Mineral/CNPq, Rua 4, Quadra
D, Cidade Universitfiria, Ilha do Fundgo, 21941-590, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil
Miller, J. R., Department of Geology, Indiana University/Purdue
University, 723W Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana,
46202-5132, USA
Mogoll6n, J. L., Reservoir Department, INTEVEP .S A., Aptdo.
76343, Caracas 1070-A, Venezuela